GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2While the film is still several months away, rumors are already swirling that the sequel will be part of Marvel's Phase 3 film schedule. According to JoBlo.com, the sequel will appear in 2016 with an animated series supporting it sometime next year. "You may have heard rumblings of a 'Guardians of the Galaxy' animated series as well, which we can also confirm. The series is aiming for a Fall 2015 debut on Disney XD, which would segue nicely into a sequel to the film the following year (especially with an established audience)," writes JoBlo's Paul Shirey. A somewhat audacious plan, should the rumor be even remotely true. Maybe Marvel just has that much confidence in the film and the Marvel cosmos. Here's to hoping it pans out and we eventually see Ziran the Tester in IMAX.

Opens 2016?AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRONMeanwhile, the climax of Phase 2 gets a little bit bigger with the news that Paul Bettany will step away from his Jarvis voice-over gig and play the Vision in the flesh ... er ... microbonded poly-alloy. The news comes from a variety of sources, including Variety and CBR. I'll admit I'm surprised by this turn of events. Considering the current roster and the addition Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, it seems that the Vision might be an Avenger too much. Of course, sometime next week, we're announcing that I've been cast as Wonder Man. What? It could happen!

And if the Vision wasn't enough, Latino Review hears word that "Miss Marvel" will be in the film as well. Now, I'm quoting Latino Review's El Mayimbe exactly because I find his choice of wording interesting: "Miss Marvel" as opposed to "Captain Marvel" or even "Ms. Marvel." He adds, "Katee Sackhoff was originally rumored so it will be interesting to see who Marvel gets for that part." That would suggest Carol Danvers, but didn't Marvel just introduce a new Ms. Marvel onto comic stands all over the world? If they are casting the Carol Danvers character, I hope they just call her Captain Marvel.

Directed by Joss Whedon & starring everybody, opens May 1st, 2015PREACHERAnd so the strange saga of "Preacher's" slow crawl to the screen continues. This leg of the journey is brought to us by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the loveable scamps who gave us "Pineapple Express" and other films. According to our article here at CBR, the boys will be working with "Breaking Bad" vet Sam Catlin, who will also run the show should it go to series. Oh, and it'll air on AMC. Is this the best outcome? Time will tell. Hell, I've seen "Preacher" projects rise and fall so often, I'm skeptical this thing is even happening. But I suppose if anyone can, it could be this team.

THE FANTASTIC FOURPart of director Josh Trank's job is not just casting the right people to bring Reed, Sue, Ben, Johnny and a villain to the screen, but also to deny rumors of casting until all the papers are signed and the ink is dry. In the latest round, Trank poopoos a Hollywood Reporter article that suggests Dr. Doom might be a woman this time around. Via the Twitter, the director says "The THR gender speculation is also bullshit. Next." Well, nice to see a blunt answer. Meanwhile, odds-on favorite for Johnny Storm, Michael B. Jordan, gives I Am Rogue another wonderful non-answer answer in regards to his involvement:

Release date: June 19th, 2015RUNAWAYSWith his Marvel One Shot, "All Hail the King," arriving with the DVD and Blu-ray of "Thor: The Dark World," Total Film caught up with writer/director Drew Pearce and asked about his long-in-gestation adaptation of Marvel's "Runaways." His response: "I wish I knew if The 'Runaways' had a place in Phase 3. I'm not close enough to the core. I don't work for Marvel, so I don't have a sense of the Master Plan other than when tiny crumbs are passed to me! I'm still super-proud of the script. I think it's a brilliant film in the making - not necessarily because of my script, but because of Brian K Vaughan's excellent idea. I know Kevin's still a big fan of the script that's there in the vault. Whether it finds its way onto the runway for Phase 3, I have no idea, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed." He also mentions he would love to adapt "Damage Control" if given the chance.

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